Bruce Hwy upgrades: What Sunshine Coast to Brisbane will look like

Up to a billion dollars is being spent on notorious Bruce Hwy choke points between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast. See how the road is expected to transform in coming years:

Up to a billion dollars is being splashed to make commuting between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast a little easier but dreams of a six-lane highway are nowhere near becoming a reality.

Some relief is on the way with two major upgrades at Maroochydore and Bribie Island expected to be completed in 2023.

The state’s peak motoring body said while adding more lanes to choke points would help address some congestion issues, the entire section from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast was in urgent need of attention.

RACQ head of public policy Susan Furze said the area was identified as the worst for unnecessary delays during a recent survey.

But Ms Furze said recent work to upgrade between Caloundra Rd and Sunshine Mwy did provide some improvements.

“We’ve long called for the Bruce Highway to be upgraded to six lanes north from Caboolture to the Sunshine Coast and for the construction of the full Beerburrum to Nambour Rail duplication,” Ms Furze said.

“Traffic congestion results in delays and a loss of productivity for business, freight and motorists, and often leads to crashes.

Congestion on the Bruce Hwy.

“That’s why we must future-proof our roads and ensure Queenslanders have access to faster and more sustainable public transport options.”

Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the state government was spending about $3.9bn on projects to address Bruce Hwy congestion.

On top of direct upgrades on the highway Mr Bailey said congestion would also ease with the $105m smart motorways program from Pine River to Caloundra Rd – with variable speed limits and a high-tech messaging system.

He said $70m was also being spent on the Bells Creek Arterial Rd to provide a new link from the highway into Caloundra and work would start soon on the $550m upgrade of the Beerburrum to Nambour rail line.

“Queensland’s world-leading pandemic response has resulted in a population boom on the Sunshine Coast. Combined with the 2032 Olympics, the next decade is about growth and Games,” he said.

“The government will continue looking at the Sunshine Coast’s transport needs to support the growing population, and that will include exploring further upgrades to the Bruce Highway.”

Fisher MP Andrew Wallace said the federal government provided 80 per cent of th efunding for upgrades to the Bruce Hwy from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane and 70 per cent of funding for upgrades to North Coast Rail.

“These projects will make every section of the road safer and less congested, all the way from the Deception Bay interchange north of Brisbane to the Cooroy and Curra bypass at Gympie,” Mr Wallace said.

He said he would continue to work closely with state and federal governments to secure funding to have the Bruce Hwy extended to at least six lanes from the Coast to the state’s capital.

He said roadworks had made a noticeable difference for local residents.

“We are going to see less congestion, improved safety and more transport options for visitors and locals,” Mr Wallace said.

Here are the major projects set to change life for Sunshine Coast motorists in years to come:

Maroochydore Road and Mons Road interchanges

Major roadworks at Maroochydore are still 12 months from completion with the project expected to significantly change the area.

The state and federal-funded Maroochydore and Mons Rd interchange upgrade involves converting the Maroochydore Rd and Nambour Connection Rd roundabout into a fully controlled signalised interchange.

The $301.25m project will also include widening Mons Rd under the Bruce Hwy and relocating on and off-ramp access points.

John Holland Seymour Whyte Joint Venture is completing the work which was expected to create 380 jobs.

Construction started in early June 2020, with completion expected in late 2022.

Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway

More than four years of roadworks came to an end in September with the official opening of the Sunshine Coast’s largest infrastructure project.

Work recently finished on the $932m Bruce Hwy upgrade between the Sunshine Mwy and Caloundra Rd.

The works involved Australia’s first diverging diamond interchange, six-laning between Caloundra Rd and the motorway and a two-way service road between Steve Irwin Way and Tanawha Tourist Dr.

Caboolture-Bribie Island Rd to Steve Irwin Way

A Bruce Hwy congestion hotspot is being widened from four to six lanes in a $662.5m project.

The 11km stretch between Caboolture-Bribie Island Rd and Steve Irwin Way will from early 2023 have additional lanes.

The project also involves replacing 10 bridges and five creek crossings.

Acciona Infrastructure Project Australia is completing the work from Caboolture-Bribie Island Rd to Pumicestone Rd and Fulton Hogan is completing from Pumicestone Rd to Steve Irwin Way.

It is expected to be completed in late-2023, weather and construction conditions permitting.

Sunshine Motorway to Maroochydore Road

Early planning has been completed for a six-lane stretch along a busy section of the Bruce Hwy.

Planning was completed in 2018 for a major upgrade between the Sunshine Mwy and Maroochydore Rd but funding is yet to be committed.

“This work will be considered in the future, after assessment of competing priorities and depending on funding availability,” the Department of Transport and Main Roads said.

Deception Bay Road to Caboolture-Bribie Island Road

Planning has also been completed for a future upgrade to the stretch between Deception Bay Rd and Caboolture-Bribie Island Rd.

The study investigated widening the highway to eight lanes, and considered upgrades to Old Bay Rd and Station Rd overpass at Burpengary, and connecting Caboolture Bribie Island Rd interchange and the D’Aguilar Hwy.

It was completed in December 2020 in addition to other studies for the Pine River to Caloundra Rd section.

There is no funding allocated for this section of the highway.

Western alternative

A western alternative to the Bruce Hwy is in the planning stages, to the relief of regular commuters.

Affected property owners have been sent maps detailing the proposed route for the first stage of an alternative highway west of the Bruce to connect the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

The critical infrastructure project would be delivered in four stages and run from Joyner to Beerburrum and Steve Irwin Way.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads has developed a phased consultation approach with a preferred route already identified for the first section of the road from Moodlu to Moorina.

The 55km, four-lane alternative highway was hoped to ease congestion and be built in a 90m corridor with room to expand in the future.